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Today's Top Stories
United Airlines fined $1.9 million for long tarmac delays, in largest-ever penalty – NBC News
The department said between December 2015 and February, United allowed 25 flights to remain on the tarmac for lengthy periods without allowing passengers to deplane.
House Amendment Fixes Flight Training Rules – AV Web
Congress appears poised to short-circuit the FAA’s plans for an elaborate rewrite of its commercial aviation definition that has resulted in frustrating paperwork exercises for some CFIs.
Do space tourists really understand the risk they're taking? – Space.com Space tourism vehicles just might be the only transportation technology out there with the potential to kill humans that doesn't need to undergo independent safety certification. For now, aspiring space travelers seem okay with that.
When Airbus’ Aircraft Will Be 100% Compatible With Sustainable Aviation Fuels – Simple Flying
Airbus plans to repeat the 100% SAF achievement on an A320neo before this year is over. This move will help it transition into a new generation of aviation in the coming years.
Pilot Poaching Domino Threatens Recovery – AV Web
As travel numbers continue to climb in the U.S., airlines are poaching pilots from countries where the recovery is lagging in a domino scenario that could seriously threaten the aviation recovery in some places.
'A Complex Problem': Could Changes be coming to Flight Paths over Milton, Hull? – Aviation Pros
The study also does not recommend dispersing aircraft headed into and out of Logan Airport, a solution sought
September 24, 2021
Delta urges other airlines to shares internal 'no fly' lists as unruly passenger incidents rise – Fox Business
The airline has grounded some 1,600 passengers from its planes amid a surge of unruly travelers during the coronavirus pandemic, mainly those who have caused disruptions after refusing to wear a federally required mask.
Passenger Accused Of Attacking JetBlue Flight Attendant, Rushing Cockpit On Boston To San Juan Flight – Boston CBS Local
Investigators say Khalil El Dahr tried to make a cell phone call. When the call did not go through, he became agitated. He eventually rushed towards the cockpit yelling that he wanted to be shot in Spanish.
Airbus Hydrogen Push Is Gaining Traction – Aviation Week
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The airframer is receiving support from customers, two major airport operators have started large-scale demonstration projects on the use of hydrogen, and research work in Toulouse appears to be continuing apace.
Panel Highlights Federal Support for SAF Ahead of Sustainability Summit At NBAA-BACE – NBAA
A Sept. 23 webinar previewed next month’s Business Aviation Sustainability Summit at NBAA-BACE with an enlightening look at the government’s support for sustainable aviation fuel to reduce lifecycle aviation CO2 emissions over conventional Jet-A.
Watch SpaceX's Inspiration4 astronauts see Earth through their huge window for the 1st time (video) – Space.com
Crewmembers Chris Sembroski and Jared Isaacman slowly heft the cover away from the dome as the theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey" plays in the background. Hayley Arceneaux gets some equipment ready before gazing out the window in awe.
SpaceX Starship: This New Hurdle Stands Between Musk And His Mars City – Inverse
SpaceX’s rocket launch facility is taking shape - but perhaps not fast enough for the company’s most ambitious goals. Last week, FAA announced it sought public input on SpaceX’s proposed Starship and Super Heavy rocket program.
Alaka’i Preparing To Fly New Skai Fuel-Cell EVTOL Prototype – Aviation Week (Click Login to access)
Alaka’i Technologies is awaiting FAA approval to begin free-flight tests on a new prototype of its Skai zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell-powered electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
September 23, 2021
Report: Pilot in deadly balloon crash had drugs in system – Associated Press
A report from the FAA shows the pilot of a hot air balloon that crashed in New Mexico in June had marijuana and cocaine in his system. Pilot Nicholas Meleski died along with his four passengers after the balloon descended in the sky above Albuquerque.
Unruly airline passenger incidents fall amid fines, but still high -U.S. FAA – Reuters
The incidents were occurring six times per 10,000 flights as of last week - a 50% drop from early 2021 when the agency moved to a "zero-tolerance policy" against fliers lashing out, it said in a statement.
Changing U.S. Regional Fleets Favor Larger RJs And E-Jets – Aviation Week (Click Login to access)
The air travel downturn of 2020-21 has accelerated a shift in the U.S. away from small regional jets to larger, dual-class aircraft in the 76-seat category, a trend that was underway long before anyone had heard of COVID-19.
The climate can't wait for electric planes. Sustainable fuel may be the answer – CNN Business
Given that electric and hydrogen-powered planes won't be available for at least another decade, even for short-haul flights, SAF "holds one of the most important keys to decarbonizing aviation," said Matteo Mirolo.
What Does Titanium Sponge Show About Aircraft Production Recovery? – Aviation Week (Click Login to access)
How fast will U.S. military jet and large commercial aircraft build rates pick up? According to one new Wall Street report on titanium sponge, a key import for new-generation airliners, maybe not so fast.
Augmented Reality Dogfight Training For Fighter Pilots Has Made A Major Leap In Capability – The Drive
The firm recently demonstrated the ability to conduct training sorties that pit a real pilot against multiple simulated adversaries, as well as work with a friendly virtual wingman to engage a single mock threat, rather than just one-on-one engagements.
September 22, 2021
Truly Accessible Air Travel Could Be Coming Sooner Than You Think – Travel Pulse
While there are around 2.8 million wheelchair users in America, a much smaller number of those use air travel as a method of transportation. Those who do can become injured by the boarding or deplaning process.
U.S. FAA wants airlines to do more to address unruly passengers – Reuters
The agency said it had asked airline trade groups at a meeting on Tuesday to disclose within a week what steps they will take to curb such incidents.
Searching for solutions to Alaska’s high rate of deadly air crashes – Anchorage Daily News
They offered a range of solutions: bolstering weather information for aviators, expanding the use of collision avoidance technology, and providing more opportunities for pilots to use technology for flying through poor weather.
The pandemic has turned United Airlines into a thriving freight company – Quartz
United’s eager embrace of freight is at once a pandemic success story, an indicator of the chaos roiling global supply chains, and a harbinger of a future in which more of our goods travel by air.
Listen To An F-16's Intercept Of An Army Cessna That Violated Airspace Near The United Nations – The Drive
We have the full air traffic control audio of the F-16 that ran down a U.S. Army Cessna after it strayed into restricted airspace over New York City.
Kitty Hawk Returns To Autonomous Single-Seat EVTOL Strategy – Aviation Week (Click Login to access)
Kitty Hawk said it plans to spend the next 12-18 months experimenting and learning how cities work, developing its concept of operations, and understanding the infrastructure required on the ground.
Global Aviation Stakeholders Commit To 10% SAF Target by 2030 – Aviation Week (Click Login to access)
A voluntary commitment to achieve 10% sustainable aviation fuel use in global aviation by 2030 has been announced by 60 companies in the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition.
September 21, 2021
ACA: It Takes a Village To Combat Illegal Charter – AIN Online
The European business aviation industry must increase awareness of illegal charter operators and push for harsher sanctions if it has any chance of wiping out the illicit practice. This was a key message from the Air Charter Expo.
DOJ to Take on JetBlue American Merger – Wall Street Journal via FocusFAA
The lawsuit, which could come as soon as Tuesday, is expected to argue that the recently forged alliance threatens competition and higher fares, the people said.
IAWA Study FInds Aviation Leadership Gender Gap Remains – AIN Online
Nearly 60 percent of women who have held aviation leadership positions have considered leaving the industry, underscoring a lack of progress in addressing the gender gap in high-level roles.
Tucson police-evading super-drone ‘quadcopter-like’ with ‘propellers reflecting light’ – Drone DJ
Now, Tingley offers additional information from internal CBP email that describes the vehicle as “quadcopter like,” with “propellers reflecting the city light” as it went into hover GPS mode above the base.
Viewpoint: Is Age Just A Number For Private Jets? – Aviation Week
It may be unrealistic that a charter buyer would have the technical expertise, and time, to review maintenance records and avionics packages for every aircraft they want to use. For the average charter buyer, this makes aircraft age a vital question.
Another crisis bugs aviation industry after Covid-19: a shortage of pilots – Business Standard
Government policies such as mandatory vaccinations for trainee pilots and travel curbs have also kept a new batch of potential aviators away.
The windowless cabin design that could be the future of air travel – CNN Travel
The American aviation company is touting its Maverick Project airplane cabin design as the next frontier of inflight experience. A key part of the package? Virtual windows.
United, Honeywell agree largest publicly announced SAF agreement in aviation history – The Safety Magazine
Under the agreement, United will purchase 1.5 billion gallons of SAF from Alder, equivalent to one and a half times the size of the known purchase commitments of all global airlines combined, according to the company.
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